Low self esteem

[sam053j]

You know for once I just want to feel good about myself. I want to feel happy with who I am, and what I look like. I’m tired of feeling like I’m not good enough, pretty enough, thin enough. I’m tired of holding back from things because I feel like I won’t succeed. I have no idea how I got to be like this. Honestly I can remember feeling this way since I was a little kid. No matter what anyone tells me, i always believe they are lying to me just to make me feel better. Does anyone else feel like this? If so I’d like tips on how to get over it or to start feeling better.

[inkblotch]

Hello Sam, I have felt the same way as you have for most of my life. There is no one true guide to building up your self esteem. I see it as a life long journey with its highs and lows. I’d say about the time I was in my early twenties was when I felt the worst about myself. I had similar thoughts to you. “I’m not smart enough. I’m not skinny enough. I’m not pretty enough. I’m not outgoing enough. I’m not good enough. I’m just not enough.” I got so tired of being sad.

I spent a year working on myself. I focused on school. Did a little bit of cardio here and there, but didn’t penalize myself for missing a day, I ate what I wanted to eat, I TRAVELED, I made new friends, I got a new job which I absolutely love, and I cut off all the bad energy in my life. That included males who made me terrible about myself, friends who weren’t really friends, and I also stopped smoking and drinking. I spoiled myself every single week and I continuously told myself I was enough. It was a lot of hard work, but one day I was able to wake up and I found myself being happy that I was me and that me was my reality.

The reason I say it’s a lifelong journey is because I go through stages where I feel bad about myself. My depression and anxiety have reached an all time low, but the important thing to remember is to vent when you have to vent and then look back within yourself and take the initiative to make a difference in your own life.

[sam053j in reply to inkblotch]

Gosh that sounds great! I want to do all of that. I especially wish I could travel. Unfortunately I have kids and no money. But I have been wanting to go camping and what not. That would be awesome! It is a life long journey I agree. It’s hard. Some days I feel proud of myself because I’ve accomplished the things I planned on accomplishing. Other days I’m so down right disappointed and hard on myself for not getting anything done

[inkblotch in reply to sam053j]

Go camping 🙂 it sounds like it would be a lot of fun and even therapeutic for you.

Don’t be too hard on yourself! Remember you are your hardest critic, but you can also be the most loving.

[sam053j in reply to inkblotch]

Thank you! I know. That’s the problem. I know what I think is harsh and mostly untrue, but at the moment I don’t think it’s untrue